System and method for unified registration information collection

ABSTRACT

A client computer collects registration information and uploads the collected information to one or more remote registration databases. The collection and/or uploading of registration information for multiple manufacturers is performed in a unified manner, improving the user-friendliness of the computer. According to one aspect of the invention, a single user interface is used to collect the registration information for all of the manufacturers, preventing the same question from being asked multiple times. According to another aspect of the invention, a multiple posting method is used to upload the registration information to the registration databases. In the multiple posting method, a single network communication link is established between the client computer and a network that the registration databases are coupled to, via which multiple client computer to registration database connections are established.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/433,188,filed on Oct. 25, 1999, entitled “System and Method for UnifiedRegistration Information Collection”, listing David Feinleib, CarlGulledge, Ken Moss and Autumn Neault as inventors, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to computer systems and collection of informationregarding computer system users. More particularly, the inventionrelates to unified collection and uploading of user registrationinformation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Uses for computers in our daily lives are continually expanding. Asthese uses expand, it is beneficial for the manufacturers of both thecomputers and the software the computers run to have information on themanner in which the computers and software are used, as well asinformation on the users of the computers and software. Having suchinformation assists the manufacturers in designing and creatingcomputers and software that are more useful and better aligned withusers' needs and desires. Providing such information to themanufacturers is also beneficial to users on a daily basis because themanufacturer can personalize the user's computer/software experience byestablishing an on-going electronic relationship with the consumer.

One approach to obtaining such information is to collect “registrationinformation” or “registration data” from the user and transmit it to themanufacturer. Registration information refers to demographic and otherinformation regarding the user and the user's computer. This mightinclude information such as the user's intended use of the computer orsoftware, the user's preferred activities, hobbies, other computerhardware or software components or peripherals that are being used inconjunction with the computer or software, the user's electronic mail orstreet address, locale information (e.g., zip code), etc. Theregistration information may also include information regarding thecomputer itself (e.g., identification numbers, processor type, amount ofmemory, installed omponents, etc.).

Registration information is typically collected via multiple“registration wizards”, each of which is a program that is executed whenthe computer is initially set up by the user or the software isinstalled. Each registration wizard asks the user various questions toelicit the registration information, and may also interrogate thecomputer itself to obtain information (e.g., processor type) regardingthe computer. Once the registration information is collected, theregistration wizard transmits or “uploads” the collected information toa registration database, from which a manufacturer is able tosubsequently retrieve the collected information. The registrationdatabase is typically accessed via a direct-connection (e.g., a directphone call to a computer system maintaining the registration database)or via a network (e.g., the Internet, which may also require a modemcall to access the network).

There are typically different registration wizards for the computer, oneor more of the software programs being run on the computer, andsometimes for additional peripheral devices coupled to the computer(e.g., printers or scanners). However, much of the information that thedifferent manufacturers want to obtain is often the same (e.g., name,address, phone number, etc.). Requiring users to repeatedly answer thesame questions over and over results in a time-consuming, “unfriendly”user experience. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a moreuser-friendly way to collect registration information.

Additionally, once the registration information is collected the user'scomputer typically makes multiple modem calls to upload the registrationinformation. One modem call (whether the connection be direct or via anetwork) is typically made to each of the registration databases. Makingsuch multiple modem calls is a further time-consuming process and, dueto the time involved, can result in a further “unfriendly” userexperience. One solution to this problem is for the computer to make asingle modem call to the computer manufacturer or a designated thirdparty, which receives all of the registration information, and thentransfers the appropriate parts of the registration information to allparties interested in the data. However, this can be problematic becausethe manufacturer or third party may not want to receive all of theinformation, or there may be disagreements between the manufacturersregarding which of them pays for the modem call from the computer to thespecified manufacturer.

The invention described below addresses these disadvantages of the priorart, providing an improved way to collect and upload user registrationinformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A client computer collects registration information and uploads thecollected information to one or more remote registration databases. Thecollection and/or uploading of registration information for multiplemanufacturers is performed in a unified manner, improving theuser-friendliness of the computer.

According to one aspect of the invention, a single user interface isused to collect the registration information for all of themanufacturers. By using a single user interface, a user is not presentedwith the same question by each of the multiple manufacturers. Rather,asking of common questions (e.g., the user's name) is performed once andthe collected response information is then provided to each of themultiple manufacturers.

According to another aspect of the invention, a multiple posting methodis used to upload the registration information to more than oneregistration database. In the multiple posting method, a single networkcommunication link (e.g., via a single modem call) is establishedbetween the client computer and a network that the registrationdatabases are coupled to. Once the communication link is established,additional client computer to registration database connections areestablished via the communication link, allowing the registrationinformation to be uploaded to multiple registration databases via thesingle communication link.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. The same numbersare used throughout the figures to reference like components and/orfeatures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary client computer and multiple remoteregistration servers in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a general example of a computer that can be used as aserver or client in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for the unifiedcollection of registration information in accordance with oneimplementation of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for posting ofcollected registration information in accordance with one implementationof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Architecture

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary client computer 102 and multiple remoteregistration servers 104 and 106 in accordance with the invention.Registration data or information is collected at client computer 102 andsubsequently transferred (also referred to as “uploaded” or “posted”) toregistration server 104 and/or 106, where the registration informationis stored in one of registration databases 108, 110, or 112.

Client computer 102 communicates with servers 104 and 106 via a datacommunications network 114. In the illustrated example, datacommunications network 114 can include one or more of: the Internet, apublic switched telephone network (PSTN), local area networks (LANs),and private wide area networks (WANs). Communication between client 102and registration servers 104 and 106 can be via any of a variety ofconventional communication protocols, such as the Hypertext TransferProtocol (HTTP).

Registration server 104 is coupled to registration databases 108 and110, while registration server 106 is coupled to registration database112. Although illustrated separately, it is to be appreciated thatregistration databases 108 and/or 110 may alternatively be part ofserver computer 104, and registration database 112 may alternatively bepart of server computer 106. Servers 104 and 106 may have additionalconventional “web server” functionality, or alternatively may bededicated servers used only for receiving registration information only.

Client computer 102 includes an operating system 116, registrationwizard 120, posting modules 122, and multiple (n) additionalapplications 124. Operating system 114 represents any of a wide varietyof conventional operating systems, such as the “Windows” brand ofoperating systems, available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash. Registration wizard 120 and posting modules 122 are illustrated asseparate from operating system 116. Alternatively, one or more of wizard120 and modules 122 may be incorporated into operating system 114.Additional software applications 124 may also be running on client 102.Examples of such applications include games, word processors,spreadsheets, etc.

Operating system 116 includes a network module 126 that controls theaccess of client computer 102 to network 114. Network module 126 canestablish, at the request of an application running on client computer102, a communication link to network 114. Such a communication link canbe established in any of a variety of conventional manners, such as a“dial-up connection” using a conventional modem and telephone line,through a network proxy, etc. Once established, network module 126manages the communication link according to any of a wide variety ofconventional communications protocols, allowing different applicationsrunning on client 102 to communicate with servers 104 and 106, as wellas any other devices or computers coupled to network 114.

Registration wizard 120 collects registration information, includingdemographic and/or other user-or client computer-related informationfrom a user of client 102. This collection occurs, for example, when theclient computer is first set up or the software is first installed.Registration wizard 120 collects this registration information byprompting the user for inputs via a user interface (UI). This promptingcan be done in any of a variety of conventional manners, such as throughmenu options, radio buttons, or other data-entry fields of a graphicaluser interface, through audio questions and user-responses via amicrophone, etc. Registration wizard 120 may also interrogate, eitherwith or without the user's knowledge, the operating system 116 or othermodules to ascertain additional computer-related information (e.g.,processor type, amount of memory, etc.).

Typically, both the manufacturer of client computer 102 and themanufacturer of operating system 116 want to collect registrationinformation. Furthermore, manufacturers of other applications 124 aswell as other peripheral components (not shown), such as printers orscanners, may also want to collect registration information. As usedherein, each of the different components (whether hardware or software)of client computer 102 (including client computer 102 itself) for whichregistration information is to be collected is referred to as a“registering component”.

Registration databases 108-112 correspond to one or more manufacturers.For example, registration database 108 may correspond to themanufacturer of the client computer 102, while registration database 110and/or registration database 112 may correspond to the manufacturer ofthe operating system 116. One of the posting modules 122 uploads aportion of the registration information corresponding to theregistration requests of a manufacturer to the registration database108-112 that corresponds to that manufacturer. The registrationdatabases 108-112 can be maintained by the manufacturers, oralternatively by a third party that temporarily stores the registrationinformation until subsequently retrieved by the manufacturer.

According to one aspect of the invention, registration wizard 120 isprogrammed with the registration requests (e.g., user questions,operating system interrogation requests, etc.) of both the manufacturerof client computer 102 and the manufacturer of operating system 116. Byprogramming registration wizard 120 to collect registration informationfor both manufacturers, duplicate questions can be eliminated. Forexample, registration wizard 120 need only request a user's name andaddress once even though that information may be subsequently providedto both manufacturers.

Alternatively, multiple registration wizards could be used to provide aunified interface that did not duplicate questions for the user. Forexample, a first registration wizard could be programmed to collect part(e.g., half) of the registration information, while a secondregistration wizard could be programmed to collect the remaining part(e.g., the other half) of the registration information. Both wizardscould have a similar look and feel so that they would appear integratedto the user even though they are two separate programs.

Registration wizard 120 can be programmed with the registration requestsin any of a wide variety of conventional manners. According to oneimplementation, the manufacturer of registration wizard 120 manuallyadds all of the registration requests to registration wizard 120. Anyduplicate questions are removed as part of this manual programmingprocess.

According to another implementation, registration wizard 120 accessesone or more registration request documents 128 to identify whichregistration information to collect. A “core document” including a coreset of registration requests is included in documents 128. The coredocument is provided by the manufacturer of registration wizard 120 (oralternatively one of the registering components) and includes commoninformation generally requested, such as user name, address, phonenumber, etc. Any information that the manufacturer wants to collect thatis not already collected as part of the core set of registrationrequests can be collected by adding to the core document. Alternatively,additional documents could be added in addition to the documentincluding the core set of registration requests. During operation,registration wizard 120 accesses documents 128 to determine whichinformation to collect. The manufacturer should take care to ensure thatany registration request that it adds is not already in the core set ofregistration request and has not already been added by anothermanufacturer.

In the illustrated example, each of the registration request documents128 is a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) document that identifies theregistration requests to registration wizard 120. During operation,registration wizard 120 collects the registration information identifiedby the requests in documents 128. Alternatively, other protocols ratherthan HTML can be used to create documents 128.

Once all of the registration information is collected, registrationwizard 120 uploads the registration information to registrationdatabases 108-112 via servers 104 and 106. The registration informationcan be uploaded to the registration databases via a “single post”,“multiple post”, or a “serial post” method. Using the single postmethod, individual client to server connections are made (e.g., modemdial-up connections). Using the multiple post method, a single networkcommunication link is made and, using that communication link, multipleclient to server connections are made. Thus, in the multiple post methodonly a single communication link (e.g., a single modem dial-upconnection) need be established. Using the serial post method, a singlenetwork communication link is made and, using that communication link,one or more client to server connections are made. A further connectionis made originating from the server to another server.

The registration information uploaded to each of the registrationservers is dependent on the registration requests provided by each ofthe manufacturers or third party. The portion of the collectedregistration information that corresponds to the registration requestsprovided by a manufacturer is uploaded to the registration servercorresponding to that manufacturer or third party. The portions of theregistration information uploaded for different manufacturers or thirdparty may “overlap” or share some common information (e.g., both mayinclude the user's name and address), or alternatively the portions maybe identical.

Using the single post method, a separate modem call is made to upload or“post” the registration information for each of the manufacturers. Uponcollecting the registration information, registration wizard 120initiates execution of a different posting module 122 for each of themanufacturers. In response, each of the posting modules 122 establishesa communication link (e.g., a dial-up connection) to connect to apredetermined registration server 104 or 106 by invoking network module126. Upon establishing the connection, the posting module 122 posts theregistration information for that manufacturer to the registrationdatabase via the corresponding registration server (e.g., toregistration database 112 via registration server 106).

Upon completing the posting, posting module 122 terminates, at whichpoint registration wizard 120 calls another of the posting modules 122.The newly called posting module 122 then establishes a communicationlink to connect to the appropriate one of the registration servers byinvoking network module 126. The posting module then proceeds to postthe registration information for the corresponding manufacturer to theappropriate one of the registration databases via a correspondingregistration server. This process continues until the registrationinformation is posted to each of the appropriate servers.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the posting modules 122 correspondon a one-to-one basis with the registration databases 108-112. Theposting modules 122 are manufacturer-specific, as are the registrationdatabases 108-112. Alternatively, multiple posting modules may becombined into a single posting module, or multiple registrationdatabases may correspond to a particular manufacturer and a particularone of modules 122.

Using the multiple post method, a single modem call is made to upload orpost the registration information for multiple manufacturers. Uponcollecting the registration information, registration wizard 120establishes a communication link by invoking network module 126. Oncethe communication link is established, registration wizard 120 calls afirst of the posting modules 122. In response, the called posting module122 establishes a connection (e.g., using HTTP) via the network 114 tothe appropriate one of servers 104 and 106. The registration informationis uploaded and stored, by the server, in a registration databasecoupled to the server (e.g., registration database 110 coupled to server104). The module 122 also provides an identifier of the manufacturer ofserver 104, which is used by server 104 to determine which of databases108 or 110 the registration information is to be stored in. Afteruploading or posting of the registration information is complete, theposting module 122 terminates and registration wizard 120 calls anotherof the posting modules 122. The newly called posting module 122establishes an HTTP connection, via the network 114, to the appropriateone of servers 104 and 106 and uploads the registration information forthe corresponding manufacturer to the server. This process continuesuntil the registration information is posted to each of the appropriateservers, at which point registration wizard 120 terminates execution andthe communication link to network 114 is closed.

Using the serial post method, a single modem call is made to upload orpost the registration information for multiple manufacturers or thirdparties. Upon collecting the registration information, registrationwizard 120 establishes a communication link by invoking network module126. Once the communication link is established, registration wizard 120calls a first of the posting modules 122. In response, the calledposting module 122 establishes a connection (e.g., using HTTP) via thenetwork 114 to the appropriate one of servers 104 and 106; Theregistration information is uploaded and stored, by the server, in aregistration database coupled to the server (e.g., registration database110 coupled to server 104). The module 122 also provides an identifierof the manufacturer of server 104, which is used by server 104 todetermine which of databases 108 or 110 the registration information isto be stored in. After uploading or posting of the registrationinformation is complete, the posting module 122 terminates andregistration server 104 or 106 posts to another registration server 104or 106 (additionally, registration wizard 120 may call one or moreadditional posting modules 122 to upload registration information toother servers 104 or 106 prior to terminating the communication link).The server 104 or 106 establishes an HTTP connection, via the network114, to the appropriate one of servers 104 and 106 and uploads theregistration information for the corresponding manufacturer or thirdparty to that server. This process continues until the registrationinformation is posted to each of the appropriate servers, at which pointregistration server 104 or 106 terminates its registering and thecommunication link between the server 104 or 106 and network 114 isclosed. Thus, using the serial post method, some of the registrationinformation is transferred from server to server rather than directlyfrom client to multiple servers.

Alternatively, a posting module 122 may establish a connection to aparticular registration database of a server, such as registrationdatabase 110. This connection comprises, for example, an HTTP connectionbetween client 102 and server 104 with an identifier of registrationdatabase 110 being provided to server 104 by client 102.

Additionally, a single client to server connection may be made thatallows uploading of the registration information for multiplemanufacturers. In the illustrated example, server 104 is coupled toregistration databases 108 and 110. According to one implementation,registration database 108 stores the uploaded registration informationcorresponding to one of the manufacturers while registration database110 stores the uploaded registration information corresponding toanother of the manufacturers. Therefore, a single modem call and singleclient to server connection can be used to upload registrationinformation for multiple manufacturers.

Thus, using either the multiple or serial post methods only one modemcall need be made in order to establish a communication link to network114. In the multiple post method, once that communication link isestablished any number of additional client to server (or client toregistration database) connections can be established via the network114 without having to make another modem call. These client to serverconnections can be made using any of a variety of differentcommunication protocols, such as HTTP, secure HTTP (HTTPS), etc. In theserial post method, once the communication link to network 114 isestablished and the registration information is uploaded to a firstserver, any number of additional servers can receive the registrationinformation (or portions thereof) from the first server (or anotherserver that received the registration information, either directly orindirectly, from the first server). This communication between serverscan be made using any of a variety of different communication protocols,such as HTTP or HTTPS.

It should also be noted that, although described above with reference tothe unified interface provided by registration wizard 120, the multipleand serial post methods can also be used when there are multipleregistration wizards 120. In such situations, network module 126maintains the network communication link while different registrationwizards 120 are executing and calling different posting modules 122. Bymaintaining the network communication link, uploading of portions of theregistration information collected by different registration wizards 120can be performed even though only one modem call is used to establishthe communication link.

The single post, multiple post, and serial post methods are describedwith reference to establishing a network communication link via a modemcall. Alternatively, other conventional connection methodologies may beused with the invention rather than modem calls, such as a networkcommunication link through a proxy server.

Exemplary Computer System

In the discussion herein, the invention is described in the generalcontext of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules,being executed by one or more conventional personal computers.Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including hand-held devices,multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and thelike. In a distributed computer environment, program modules may belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

FIG. 2 shows a general example of a computer 130 that can be used as aserver or client in accordance with the invention. Computer 130 is shownas an example of a computer that can perform the functions of a clientcomputer 102 or a server 104 or 106 of FIG. 1.

Computer 130 includes one or more processors or processing units 132, asystem memory 134, and a bus 136 that couples various system componentsincluding the system memory 134 to processors 132.

The bus 136 represents one or more of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory includes readonly memory (ROM) 138 and random access memory (RAM) 140. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 142, containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within computer 130, such asduring start-up, is stored in ROM 138. Computer 130 further includes ahard disk drive 144 for reading from and writing to a hard disk, notshown, a magnetic disk drive 146 for reading from and writing to aremovable magnetic disk 148, and an optical disk drive 150 for readingfrom or writing to a removable optical disk 152 such as a CD ROM orother optical media. The hard disk drive 144, magnetic disk drive 146,and optical disk drive 150 are connected to the bus 136 by an SCSIinterface 154 or some other appropriate interface. The drives and theirassociated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules andother data for computer 130. Although the exemplary environmentdescribed herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 148 anda removable optical disk 152, it should be appreciated by those skilledin the art that other types of computer readable media which can storedata that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flashmemory cards, digital video disks, random access memories (RAMs) readonly memories (ROM), and the like, may also be used in the exemplaryoperating environment.

A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk, magneticdisk 148, optical disk 152, ROM 138, or RAM 140, including an operatingsystem 158, one or more application programs 160, other program modules162, and program data 164. A user may enter commands and informationinto computer 130 through input devices such as keyboard 166 andpointing device 168. Other input devices (not shown) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like.These and other input devices are connected to the processing unit 132through an interface 170 that is coupled to the bus 136. A monitor 172or other type of display device is also connected to the bus 136 via aninterface, such as a video adapter 174. In addition to the monitor,personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices(not shown) such as speakers and printers.

Computer 130 operates in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer176. The remote computer 176 may be another personal computer, a server,a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, andtypically includes many or all of the elements described above relativeto computer 130, although only a memory storage device 178 has beenillustrated in FIG. 2. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 2include a local area network (LAN) 180 and a wide area network (WAN)182. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices,enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet. In thedescribed embodiment of the invention, remote computer 176 executes anInternet Web browser program such as the “Internet Explorer” Web browsermanufactured and distributed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.

When used in a LAN networking environment, computer 130 is connected tothe local network 180 through a network interface or adapter 184. Whenused in a WAN networking environment, computer 130 typically includes amodem 186 or other means for establishing communications over the widearea network 182, such as the Internet. The modem 186, which may beinternal or external, is connected to the bus 136 via a serial portinterface 156. In a networked environment, program modules depictedrelative to the personal computer 130, or portions thereof, may bestored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated thatthe network connections shown are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

Generally, the data processors of computer 130 are programmed by meansof instructions stored at different times in the variouscomputer-readable storage media of the computer. Programs and operatingsystems are typically distributed, for example, on floppy disks orCD-ROMs. From there, they are installed or loaded into the secondarymemory of a computer. At execution, they are loaded at least partiallyinto the computer's primary electronic memory. The invention describedherein includes these and other various types of computer-readablestorage media when such media contain instructions or programs forimplementing the steps described below in conjunction with amicroprocessor or other data processor. The invention also includes thecomputer itself when programmed according to the methods and techniquesdescribed below. Furthermore, certain sub-components of the computer maybe programmed to perform the functions and steps described below. Theinvention includes such sub-components when they are programmed asdescribed. In addition, the invention described herein includes datastructures, described below, as embodied on various types of memorymedia.

For purposes of illustration, programs and other executable programcomponents such as the operating system are illustrated herein asdiscrete blocks, although it is recognized that such programs andcomponents reside at various times in different storage components ofthe computer, and are executed by the data processor(s) of the computer.

Operation

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for the unifiedcollection of registration information in accordance with oneimplementation of the invention. The process of FIG. 3 is implemented byclient computer 102 of FIG. 1, and may be performed in software. FIG. 3is described with additional reference to components in FIG. 1.

Registration wizard 120 generates a single user interface correspondingto multiple registering components (step 202). Registration wizard 120then collects registration information without duplicating questions tothe user (step 204). It should be noted that duplicate queries tointerrogate the operating system may optionally be avoided in step 204as well. The collected registration information is then uploaded to theappropriate registration databases (step 206). The uploading of theregistration information can be accomplished using the single post,multiple post, or serial post methods discussed above.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for posting ofcollected registration information in accordance with one implementationof the invention. The process of FIG. 4 is implemented by clientcomputer 102 of FIG. 1, and may be performed in software. FIG. 4 isdescribed with additional reference to components in FIG. 1.

The registration information is initially collected by registrationwizard 120 (step 222). Network module 126 then establishes a networkcommunication link to the network 114 (step 224). Once the communicationlink is established, registration wizard 120 invokes one of the postingmodules 122, which in turn establishes a connection to one of theservers or databases via the communication link (step 226). The postingmodule 122 then transfers a portion of the registration information tothe server or registration database via the connection (step 228).Registration wizard 120 then checks whether there are additionaltransfers to be made (step 230). Registration wizard 120 continues toinvoke posting modules 122 so long as there are additional transfers tobe made (steps 228 and 230). When the appropriate registrationinformation for each of the manufacturers has been transferred to acorresponding server or registration database, the registration processends (step 230).

CONCLUSION

The invention provides for the unified collection and uploading of userregistration information. According to one aspect of the invention, asingle user interface is provided to collect the registrationinformation for multiple different manufacturers or third parties. Theuser is provided with a unified interface that advantageously avoidsasking the user duplicate questions. Additionally, according to oneaspect of the invention, a multiple post method is used to upload theregistration information to the manufacturers' registration databases.The multiple post method advantageously uses a single communication linkto the network to upload the registration information to all of theregistration databases, regardless of the number of registrationdatabases.

Although the invention has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, thespecific features and steps are disclosed as preferred forms ofimplementing the claimed invention.

1. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computerprogram that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one ormore processors to perform functions including: collecting, at a clientcomputer, registration information for a plurality of components of theclient computer using one or more registration wizards on behalf of oneor more manufacturers; establishing a communication link between theclient computer and a network; establishing multiple connections, viathe communication link, to respective multiple registration servers of aplurality of registration servers; communicating at least a firstportion of the registration information to at least a first registrationserver of the plurality of registration servers to register a first oneof the plurality of components; and communicating at least a secondportion of the registration information to a second registration serverof the plurality of registration servers to register a second one of theplurality of components.
 2. One or more computer-readable media asrecited in claim 1, wherein the program further causes the one or moreprocessors to perform functions including: establishing additionalconnections to additional respective registration servers of theplurality of registration servers via the communication link; andcommunicating additional portions of the registration information to theadditional registration servers.
 3. One or more computer-readable mediaas recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portionshare at least some common information.
 4. One or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion and the secondportion are identical.
 5. One or more computer-readable media as recitedin claim 1, wherein the registration information includes one or more ofuser demographic information and client computer information.
 6. One ormore computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the one ormore registration wizards correspond to one or more softwareapplications or hardware components.
 7. One or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 1, wherein the establishing the multipleconnections comprises establishing a first hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP) connection, and a second hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)connection.
 8. One or more computer-readable memories containing acomputer program that is executable by one or more processors to performacts of: collecting, at a client computer, registration information fora plurality of components of the client computer using a registrationwizard to enable registering of the plurality of components withrespective manufacturers; establishing a plurality of connections, via acommunication link, between the client computer and a plurality ofregistration databases; and communicating, for each of the plurality ofconnections, at least a portion of the registration information to oneof the plurality of registration databases to register a correspondingone of the plurality of components.
 9. One or more computer-readablememories as recited in claim 8, wherein the communicating comprisescommunicating, for each of the plurality of connections, a differentportion of the registration information to the one of the plurality ofregistration databases.
 10. One or more computer-readable memories asrecited in claim 9, wherein the different portions share at least somecommon information.
 11. One or more computer-readable memories asrecited in claim 8, wherein the registration information includes one ormore of user demographic information and client computer information.12. One or more computer-readable memories as recited in claim 8,wherein collecting comprises collecting the registration information fora plurality of software applications and hardware components.
 13. One ormore computer-readable media containing a computer program that isexecutable by one or more processors to perform acts of: obtainingregistration information collected for a plurality of components of aclient computer using a single registration wizard; establishing aplurality of connections between the client computer and a plurality ofregistration databases corresponding to the plurality of registeringcomponents; and transferring at least a portion of the registrationinformation collected for the plurality of registering components viathe single registration wizard to each of the plurality of registrationdatabases via the plurality of connections to register the plurality ofregistering components.
 14. One or more computer-readable media asrecited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of registering componentsincludes at least a software component and a hardware component.
 15. Oneor more computer-readable media as recited in claim 14, wherein thehardware component comprises the client computer.
 16. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality ofregistering components correspond on a one to one basis with theplurality of registration databases.
 17. One or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 13, wherein establishing a plurality ofconnections comprises: establishing a communication link between theclient computer and a network; and subsequently establishing connectionsbetween the client computer and each of the plurality of registrationdatabases via the communication link.
 18. One or more computer-readablemedia as recited in claim 13, wherein establishing a plurality ofconnections comprises: establishing, using a first dial-up number, afirst communication link to a first of the plurality of registrationdatabases; and upon terminating the first communication link,establishing, using a second dial-up number, a second communication linkto a second of the plurality of registration databases.
 19. One or morecomputer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein transferringcomprises transferring different portions of the registrationinformation to different ones of the plurality of registrationdatabases.
 20. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim13, wherein the registration information includes one or more of userdemographic information and client computer information.
 21. A systemcomprising: a processor; one or more posting modules, coupled to aregistration wizard configured to collect registration informationcorresponding to a plurality of components of a client computer onbehalf of a plurality of manufacturers; the one or more posting modulesbeing executable via the processor to: establish a plurality ofconnections between the client computer and a plurality of registrationdatabases corresponding to the plurality of manufacturers, and transferat least a portion of the registration information to each of theplurality of registration databases via the plurality of connections toregister each of the plurality of components with a respective one ofthe plurality of manufacturers.
 22. A system as recited in claim 21,wherein the registration information includes one or more of userdemographic information and client computer information.
 23. A system asrecited in claim 21, wherein the plurality of manufacturers include oneor more of software application designers, hardware componentmanufacturers, and the system manufacturer.
 24. A system as recited inclaim 21, wherein the plurality of manufacturers correspond on a one toone basis with the plurality of registration databases.
 25. A system asrecited in claim 21, wherein the one or more posting modules are furtherto transfer different portions of the registration information todifferent ones of the plurality of registration databases.
 26. Anapparatus comprising: a bus; a processor coupled to the bus; a networkconnection device coupled to the bus; and a memory, coupled to the bus,to store a plurality of instructions that are executed by the processor,wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause theprocessor to, initiate, using the network connection device, acommunication link to a network, establish, via the communication link,a plurality of connections between the apparatus and a plurality ofregistration databases, each registration database corresponding to oneor more of a plurality of registering components of the apparatus, andcommunicate, for each of the plurality of connections, at least aportion of previously-collected registration information for at leastone of said plurality of registering components to a corresponding oneof the plurality of registration databases to register the at least oneof said plurality of registering components with a correspondingmanufacturer.
 27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein theportion of previously-collected registration information includes one ormore of user demographic information and client computer information.28. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer programthat is executable by one or more processors to perform acts of:establishing a plurality of connections between a client computer and aplurality of registration databases corresponding to a plurality ofregistering components of the client computer; and transferring at leasta portion of registration information collected at the client computervia a single registration wizard to each of the plurality ofregistration databases via the plurality of connections to register acorresponding one of the plurality of registering components on behalfof a corresponding manufacturer, wherein establishing a plurality ofconnections comprises: establishing, using a first dial-up number, afirst communication link to a first of the plurality of registrationdatabases; and upon terminating the first communication link,establishing, using a second dial-up number, a second communication linkto a second of the plurality of registration databases.